[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 12063-12064]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RELEASE ALL PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

  (Ms. JENKINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, across the world, people of certain faiths 
live in fear of government persecution every day.
  Saied Rezaei, a leader of the Baha'i religion, used to advocate for 
gender equality and universal education in Iran. In 2008, he was 
arrested on false charges for propaganda against the Iranian regime and 
illegally establishing a Baha'i school. When Saied completes his 20-
year sentence, his 16-year-old son will be a 31-year-old man.
  That same year, Alimujiang Yimiti, also a husband and father, had his 
business shut down after Chinese officials accused him of preaching 
Christianity. He now faces 15 years in a Chinese prison and can only 
speak to his wife every couple months.
  State-sponsored religious persecution will not be tolerated by the 
international community. Today, I join the

[[Page 12064]]

Defending Freedoms Project to call for the release of all prisoners of 
conscience.

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